Overview

• ISKCON Kolkata replaced its ageing Boeing 747 tyres with four 4-ft diameter Sukhoi Su-30MKI tyres manufactured by MRF after a 20-year hunt.
• Minor structural work on the wheel drums, base frame and axle fittings allowed the new tyres to integrate without altering the chariot’s traditional wooden and iron superstructure.
• The four Sukhoi tyres cost Rs 1.80 lakh and can support up to 16 tonnes, covering the nine-tonne chariot plus devotees during the festival.
• A 24-kilometre test run on Kolkata’s streets validated the chariot’s enhanced manoeuvrability, stability and safety with the newly fitted tyres.
• The chariot will proceed at a ceremonial speed of 1.4 km/h when the Rath Yatra takes place on June 27, 2025.